Improvement in harvesters



t UNITED STATES t PATENT OFFICE.

YWILLIAM N. WHITELEY, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

"-iiviPRovEiviEN-r iN HARVESTERS. i

Spccitieationforniing part of Letters Patent No. 85,045, dated December 15, `1868.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, W. N. WHITELEY, of Springtield, in the county of Clarke and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Harvesters; and I do hereby declare the fol1owing-to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan ot' my invention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an inner side elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is4 an enlarged front elevation of operative mechanismof rake and reel. Fig.5isas\ide eleval ion of main frame, coupling-plate, Snc., with main wheel removed. Fig. 6 is a vertical section through main pinion-shaft, Snc. Fig. 7 is a plan view ot'pinion-shaft, bearing,.&c. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of wrist-connection; Fig. 9, sectional elevation of flange at inner side of platform, showing socketfor lower end of rcel-shaft.

This is a single driving wheel combined reaper and mower with a rigid cutting apparatus and a driviiig-wheel adjustable to regulate the height of the main frame.

A is the main frame, cast in a single piece, so as to forni a shell extending beneath the principal gearing to protectit from contact with stubble or other obstructions which mayv be in the road over which the machine has to travel. Along the outer side the main frame forms a vertical plate, joined at its lower edge, by the shellplate, which extends beneath ltl'ie' gearing.

To the vertical portion of the frame A the bearing of themain pinion-shaft B is attached, and at the rear portion, behind the bevel driving-Wheel C, which is secured to the main pinion-sh`aft, the frame assumes the form of a rectangular box, D, which is closed by a lid or door, E, and forms a receptacle for tools, Sac., which it it convenient to carry with the machine. The tubular box F, in which the crankshaft G ha's its bearings, is bolted to the upper side of the toolboxD, as shown inFig. 1.

The rigid coupling-arm H is bolted tothe lower side of the tool-box D, and is further secured from the lateral motion by two lugs, cast as a part of the main frame, and between which the said coupling-arm is placed when it is se-l cured in its position. The coupling-arm-H is curved, as shown, and its outer end is fashioned so as to form the inner shoe of the cutting apparatus, and in a suitable recess iii its upper surface the finger-bar I is firmly bolted. The

draft-plate J is jointed to the front end of the v the slot in the head of the stud L, Awith one side of which the notches in said bar engage. When the forward end of the tongue is raised the bar M slides farther through the notch in the head ofthe stud L, and whenvthe tongue is l depressed said bar is withdrawn from theslot'; but at any desired point one of the notches may engage with the side of the stud L and hold the tongue in that position,'and to retain itin the position desired the spring N is secured at one end to the side of the stud and at its other end presses against the plain side of the bar M, so as to retain it always in condition of engagement.

. That the elevation of the front ot' the niachine, and consequently of the points of 'tlie cutters, shall be always under control of the ,driver, the lever 0 is pivoted to the draft-plate',

and passes thence upward through aslot in the'bar M, and is curved backward, so as vto bring its upper end within reach of the-drivers hand. When the driver desires to raise or depress the front end of the machine he lays his hand upon the top of 'the lever- Ov and presses it sidewise, so as to release the notches of the bar M from the side of the stud L, and then he can press said bar either forward or backward through its slot in the stud L,'and perniitit to become rigid again at any point desired. That part of the vertical portion of the main frame which is above the main pin ionshaft is in the form of a segment of a disk, 1, the center of whichis the axis ofthe main pinion-shaft B.

The'hub A is cast as a part of the main frame; or it may be secured thereto in any suitable way. It projects inward from the center of the disk P, and a corresponding hub or hollow axle, projecting, from the center of the coupling-plate R, is fitted to the inner surface of said hub A', and is secured in that position to the parts, and the long bearing afforded by the hollow hub A insures easy and truthful operation.

A At the inner end of the pinion-shaft B isl secured firmly the bevel-wheel la, which transmits motion to the rake and reel. The bevelwheel C, which transmits motion tothe cutters crank-shaft, is also secured firmly to the shaft B behind'the bevel-wheel h. The wheel C is constructed with a deep cup-shaped hub, the outer end of which is fitted to the pinionshaft, and it extends backward, surrounding the hub A', as shown in Fig. 6. This construction is employed so as to enable me to locate the gear-wheel C as near the drivingwheel as possible, as it is desirable to use a long pitman, it possible. Y

Through the disk P,near its upper edge, isa series of holes, Q Q, and on the pinion-shaft B,outside ofthe disk P, is another disk, R, with a series of notches, S, in its periphery, and to its outer face, at some point near its periphery, is secured the hub T, from which projects the axis of the main wheel U. The disk R then becomes a coupling arm or plate to connect the laxle of lhemain wheel with the pinionshaft, and to regulate the height of the main frame from the ground by permitting the pinion-shaft to be raised or lowered in respect to the axis ofthe main wheel. This adjustment ofthe height of the main frame vis within eertain limits always under control ot' the driver in the following manner. The lower end of the lever V is loosely hung upon the pinionshaft B, and its upper end reaches upward within easy rea-ch ofthe hand of the driver.

On the outer side of the lever V is the sliding latch-bolt W, the lower end ot which engages with one of the notches S, so that when said lever is drawn backward the disk R, moving upon the axle T of the main wheel as a lixed fulcrum, rises up and elevates the pinionshaft B and the main frame, which is suspended upon it, and whenl the top of the lever V is thrown forward the main frame and disk R sink' toward the ground. The several notches S are provided, so that when the machine is designed to run high or low the lever V may be adjusted to be at a convenient distance from the drivers hand.` i Y The amount of motion in 'raising or lowering the main frame at any one time while the machine is in operation will be comparatively slight; but if the lever V is fixed to the disk R its position is very'different when the machine is set low upon the ground for moving than when set high for reaping.

` Upon the inner side of the lever V is the spring-latch Y, the lower end of which engages in one of the holes Q Q near the edge of the plate P. v t When the driver desires to change the height of the cutting apparatus and main frame he places his hand upon the lever V, and withdrawing the latch Y from the hole Q, he may then, by pulling the lever toward him, cause the plate R to move upward on the axle T as a center, and per consequencethe pinion-shaft B and the main frame will be raised up likewise. Motion is communicated to the main pinion-shaft and the working mechanism of the machine through the geared driver U and the pinion Z upon the outer end ofthe pinionshaft B.v Thepinion Z is notched across its face, so as to engage with the clutch-pin c l, which is inserted through the end of the pinion-shaft B, (see Fig. 5,) and said pinion is moved into or out ot connection with said clutch-pin by means ot' the clutch-rod b and the lever c, which actuates it. The standard d is bolted securely to the side of the main frame back ofi-the sector-plates P and R. The top ot' this standard curves over sidewise above the driving-wheel V, and sup ports the drivers seat c at its upper end.

The'drivers foot-boardfis supported at the lower or forward end of an arm, g, the upper end of which is bolted to the upper end of standard ci. This position ofthe drivels seat enables the drivers weight to counterbalance in some degree the weight of the cutting apparatus and platform, while the manner of mounting the seat and foot-board gives it great elasticity and renders the position comfortable to the occupant.

The bevel driving-pinion h on the inner end of the pinion-shaft B gears with pinion t on the countershaft j, which communicates motion to the rake and reel-shaft 7c by means of the bevel-wheels lm. The shat't 7c is stepped in a socket bored in the upper edge of the flange n-(see Fig. 9) on the inner shoe, and its upper end is supported in bearings in the bridge o, the ends of which are securely bolted to the side of the flange n. 5

The shaft k is jointed at about its middle portion, the two parts being connected by a universal coupling or joint, k. The lower portion is vertical, and the upper portion is inclined toward the platform. This arrangement is adopted in preference to a single straight and inclined shaft, in order to secure the advantageous arrangement of an inclined shaft and sufficient height above the platform without carrying the head ot' the reel too far over the platform. The upper or inclined portion .of the shaft k is secured in bearings in the inclined post jo, which stands uponand is secured to the top of the bridge 0.

The head q, which carries the reel-arms and the arm which drives the rake,Y is provided with parallel lugs or iianges projecting in four directions, and between those lugs the reelarms s s are rigidly secured, projecting at right angles from the shaft and perpendicular to its axis.

On the fourth side the arm r, which drives the rake, is pivoted. Thelower end ofthis arm r passes through aring, u, or some similar device attached to the front side of the rakehead t. The rake-head t is connectedto the shaft h by the arm o, which is pivoted at its upper endito the collar w, which surrounds y said shaft above the bridge o, sothat-the rake may rise and fall, moving upon its joint-connection with said collar independent of the reel, and it is caused to move f'orward or backward by theiaction of the arm r. When the rake rises up said arm simply slides farther through the ring and maintains the speed ot' rake practically unchanged.

rlhe grain in the lield is frequently so thin that during one revolution of the rake not sut'- cient grain will be cut to form a gavel, and it is then desirable that the driver should be able to control the action of the rake., so as to cause it to pass over the grain upon the platform whenever he desires. This purpose Iaccomplish by forming the guideway-in the parts C' and D'. The part C' is xed and stands at an inclination of about forty-five degrees to the level of the platform. When the arm v'travels over this portion of the guideway it is lifted up, so that the rake sweeps above the main frame, gearing, 85e, and descends again into the grain upon the platform.

The part D'is made movable,and is pivoted to the ends of the guide G', or to some con'- venient portion of its supporting-frame. The forward end of the part D' may be extended so as to form the lever E', 'by which the part D' may be operated to act as a guideway for the rake. The lever E extends inward and forward, so that its end is in a"p osition convenient to the hand of the driver, and when he wishes to prevent the rake from removing the grain lie depresses this end of the lever E',

' elevating` theouter portion of the guide D', as

shown in Fig. 4, and thereby cause the arm ci and -the rake to be raised high lenough to avoid sweeping the grain from the platform.

The pitman F' is forked at the end which is jointed to the cutter-bar, and said joint is formed with conical or conoidal points projecting from one part into corresponding socketsin the other, the joint being kept tight by a screw-bolt, which passes through both parts of the pitman and draws them together, as may be necessary. The wrist-connection is formed with a cup-shaped socket in the pitman-head and a hemispheiieal head on the wrist-pin fitting said socket. The central portion of the socket is bored through, so that a central pin from the wrist may project entirely through the pitman-head for the purpose of securing the4 two parts together, as shown in Fig. 8.' The object of this method of construction is to permit a limited variation or lateral motion in the pitman to accommodate itself to the slight variations of the cutting apparatus, Sac.; and also to enable the attendant to keep the wristjoint in snug and proper working order; and to fully accomplish this object I make the outer side of the pitman-head of shape correspond- `as new islQThe main frame A, cast in a single piece with the disk P, and tool-box D, all'as shown and described.

2. Making the bearing ofthe pinionshaftB through the center of thehub of the sectorplate R, and the bearing of the latter through the center of the hub A', and securing these parts in place in the manner shown.

3. The drivers seat aand foot-board f, mounted at the upper end of the standard d, said standard beingrigidly secured to the main frame, and its upper end curved outwardover the main wheel, as and for the purpose set fort-h.

4. The bevel-wheel C, provided with the hollow hub, as shown, inv connection with the bearing-hub A', projectingfrom the main frame A, and the hub of the sector-plate R, substantiallyasshown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

5. The leverV, provided with vlatchesVV and Y, in connection with the disks Pand sectorplate, substantially as described.

6. The combination of the helnispherical. or conoidal wrist -pin with the corresponding socketed pitman-head and the soeketed washer, as shown and described.

"1'.v The reelshaft 7c, made in two parts, as shown, and mounted in bearings in the post p, as shown, the two parts connected by a universal coupling, la', the lower part perpendicu-v lar to the surface of the platform, and the np- .per part inclined thereto, and always held in the same relative position, as and for the pur- 9. Making the guideway in two'parts, G'D','

C' being fixed and D' jointed thereto, substantially as shown, so that the position of the part D' may be changed at the will of the attendant as regards the fixed part C', and the V path of the rake be thereby raised froml the platform, as and-for the purpose set forth.

10. Elongating one end of the movable part D' to form the lever E',which extends to a position convenient to the hand of the driver, and

acts directly upon said movable part, iu the I and rake-head t, connected by the stationary manner and to the effect shown and described. ringu, and operating as shown and described. l1. The independent rake-head t, provided 13. The stops s s on the driving-arm r to with the screw 0, jointed to the collar w, or its limit the movement of said arm and the rakeequivalent, hung around the reelsbaft, and head upon euch other.

operated by n pendent arm jointed to the reel- VILLTAM N. VVVHITELEY.

head, substantially as and for the purpose set Witnesses:

forth. THOMAS HARDING,

12. The combination of the driving-arm 1" CLAY WHITELEY. 

